How Students Take Their Animations from the Classroom to Disney+ at ESMA

ESMA breaks down how collaboration, artistic fundamentals, and production workflows help student films reach global streaming quality.

ESMA (École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques) is a French higher education institution with a 25-year history specializing in digital arts, including 3D animation, visual effects, design, and concept art. Currently ranked 4th globally for its 3D animation program by The Rookies, ESMA is known for its strong focus on both artistic fundamentals and modern production tools.

Its animation program, in particular, has gained international recognition, with student films frequently featured in festivals and more. And for the last 8 years, ESMA has been offering its 3D Animation program in English as well, across campuses in Montpellier, Lyon, and Bordeaux.

With five student short films from ESMA recently joining Disney+, the spotlight is once again on how emerging artists can achieve production quality that rivals professional studios. While other student projects often remain within festival circuits, this milestone highlights a growing overlap between education and industry-level output.

"The integration of student films into a catalogue as prestigious as Disney+ is a true achievement. To reach this level, a project must demonstrate exceptional artistic and technical standards, capable of competing with contemporary professional productions. The use and mastery of software are, of course, essential to ensure technical execution that meets industry standards. But that technical level alone is not enough. What gives these
student projects their strength is the emotion they create, and that comes in particular from the power of their aesthetic and narrative quality.

The selected films, such as Swing to the Moon or La Source des Montagnes, demonstrate a level of animation finesse and world-building consistency that meets the standards of a platform that values high-level visual storytelling and creative excellence."

- Isabelle Teissedre, Head of Pedagogy at ESMA

Swing to the Moon

Many ESMA alumni go on to work on major international blockbusters, and one graduation film was a finalist at the Annie Awards for 2026.

ESMA trains students in studio-style pipelines that mirror professional workflows and build habits that can be applied in the industry professionally.

"Collaboration is at the heart of ESMA’s teaching approach. These films are not individual works, but the result of years of collaboration and collective
experimentation. Each short film is carried by teams of 7 to 10 co-directors. This structure makes it possible to simulate the way a studio operates, where different departments, such as modeling, animation, and rendering, come together to bring complex stories to life, imagined and created by young animation artists.

Each student takes on the role of Lead in one or several areas of production, while also contributing as an artist to the other areas.
As for the teachers, who all come from the professional industry, they supervise these productions to ensure a smooth transition from one stage to the next and to support students in their learning by sharing their expertise. However, the students remain the decision-makers at every stage in their role as co-directors."

- Isabelle Teissedre, Head of Pedagogy at ESMA

For ESMA, this level of recognition is not the result of a single standout project, but the outcome of a structured, studio-like production environment embedded into its curriculum.

Student films are developed over multiple years, with teams of co-directors working across disciplines such as modeling, animation, lighting, and compositing, mirroring real-world pipelines. This approach ensures that graduates are not only technically proficient but also experienced in the collaborative workflows that define modern animation production.

"Our ambition, as a school, is to support students in creating stories that can cross cultures. Students are often inspired by strong references, such as Japanese animation or major American studios, while also developing their own identity.

The fact that these films are being distributed on global platforms like Disney+ is a real recognition, and it pushes us to maintain this level of technical mastery and polish comparable to professional productions.

This distribution gives students a very concrete understanding that the level of excellence expected during their studies has direct value in the global market. Beyond technical skills, our Bloom program prepares students for the professional world by developing their soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, qualities that are considered just as important as artistic skills by recruiters in major studios."

- Isabelle Teissedre, Head of Pedagogy at ESMA

Je Suis un Caillou

As ESMA continues to gain international recognition, its approach highlights how a strong foundation in both artistry and production can prepare students for real-world success in animation and beyond.

For aspiring artists looking to develop industry-ready skills, ESMA offers a range of programs, including the aforementioned English-language courses designed to make its training accessible to a global audience. With a proven track record of producing talent capable of reaching platforms like Disney+, the school remains a compelling path for those aiming to enter the world of professional animation.

Check out the official ESMA website for more details, and make sure to watch the amazing student films now streaming on Disney+.

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